Ryan Cullen Hayes, 51, of Lakewood was sentenced today to two years’ probation for shooting and killing a neighbor’s dog.
Prosecutors said Hayes had drank 10 beers the night a neighbor came to visit with her miniature Jack Russell Terrier, named Patches.
The dog’s owner was visiting with Hayes’ mother when the dog was shot in another room. Hayes told the owner Patches was playing with the loaded .357 Magnum when it went off.
Prosecutors told the jury the angle of the gunshot made it impossible for the dog to shoot itself and more likely that Hayes was standing over the dog and shot Patches through its snout and into its chest.
A jury convicted Hayes in February on charges that included misdemeanor animal cruelty, reckless endangerment and using a weapon under the influence of alcohol.
Prosecutors had sought felony animal cruelty charges.
Hayes also will have to do 100 hours of community service, enroll anger-management classes and undergo substance-abuse treatment.
